Compare towns
Sumner vs Dedham vs Peru vs Buckfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Buckfield has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sumner | Dedham | Peru | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,656 |
1,501 |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$77,917±$41k 4% above ME |
| Dedham and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,860 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 56 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.